Montoya, Maximiliana

Maximiliana Montoya (1885-1955), better known as Anna, was the eldest sister of Maria Martinez of San Ildefonso Pueblo. Like Maria, Anna was making beautiful polychrome pottery in the early 1900s. However, Maria never wanted to paint anything so Anna painted for her until Maria married Julian and he took over the painting. When Maria and Julian sorted out how to make their famous black-on-black pottery, Anna was one of the first to learn and adopt the technique.

Anna’s husband was Crescencio Martinez, one of the founders of the San Ildefonso School of watercolor artists. He painted many pieces for Anna. Anna and Crescencio were encouraged and supported by Dr. Edgar L. Hewett almost as much as he encouraged and supported Maria and Julian. After Crescencio passed away in the flu epidemic of 1918, Anna painted all her own pieces and was soon an accomplished painter in her own right.

Anna worked with Maria for many years, sometimes polishing pots, sometimes decorating them. Maria often commented on how “everyone bothered” Anna to “put design” on their pottery. Anna also developed her own distinctive forms and shapes, including an elegant “teardrop.”